June 2010

A month to eat healthy

For a taste of summer, chiffonade salad greens, add fresh herbs, and toss with olive oil and lemon juice.

a few years ago, the word "staycation" entered our vocabu lary, as people started cutting travel to save money...

Meet Elaine Griffin, celebrated color and style expert and our new contributing editor...

WIN A $25,000 DREAM ROOM MAKEOVER

GREAT GRILL-OFF $2,500 SWEEPSTAKES!

Things to do this month...

1 GO FOR A SPIN It's nice outside! Lose the Wii under a sofa cushion for one night and make your own family fun. Need inspiration? The book Make These Toys by Heather Swain offers 101 creations crafted from everyday objects, like these pinwheels-- a delightfully simple combo of colorful paper, wine corks, pushpins, and chopsticks.

QA

INDISPENSABLE: ICECREAM BUCKET

Good deed

Game on

3 must-listen audio books

THREE-PART HARMONY

Blogged

Good fun

Good read

$12 beach mats

Water pics

Go ahead, take the plunge. These hardy cameras are built to withstand sand, surf, and even a tumble or two on rugged terrain.

Leaf it up

Who needs blooms when a clutch of leaves from your backyard can add up to a beautiful bouquet?

BEACH DREAMS

BEST-SELLING AUTHOR MARY KAY ANDREWS PENS A HAPPY ENDING FOR A FIXER-UPPER COTTAGE ON THE GEORGIA COAST.

Sea glass

Is it green? Is it blue? Whatever you call it, this color is as soothing as a long walk by the shore.

6 Ideas for laid-back living

6 Ideas for laid-back living Capture the carefreespirit of summer with these ideas that are good all year long.

Summer fix-ups with Danny Lipford

Tackle these home projects now so you can enjoy the rest of the season.

Smart style in a small package

A young designer's first home offers ideas for supersizing a small space for little cash.

Breathing rooms

A FAMILY OF FIVE WELCOME FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS TO KICK RACK AND RELAX IN THEIR CASUAL COTTAGE.

40 FUN IDEAS for great summer get-togethers

My space

In a newly constructed apartment complex, this master bedroom's worst feature was also its best. "It was textbook cookie-cutter-- 100 percent spec house plain vanilla," says designer Elaine Griffin of the 12x14-foot space. But that allowed Elaine to let loose with paint, wallpaper, and textiles to match the room to its occupant, Ann Hanover, "a high-octane person with a vivacious, go-getter personality."

SOCIAL CLIMBERS

A COUPLE DISCOVERS THAT CLIMBING ROSES HAVE A WAY OF BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

Shuffle the deck

A retractable canopy system and right-size furnishings turn an unused deck into an inviting fresh-air hangout.

Sun Garden in a Box

High-wire act

This year, skip the plastic, mass-produced baskets. Design and plant your own unique hanging creations.

Make your own faux-stone planters

Bench mark

This stylish potting station borrows storage and decorating ideas from the kitchen.

A cut above the rest

Time-lapse camera

1 of 4 bites

Qa: How can we keep our water garden from being a breeding area for mosquitoes?

Reblooming daylily

THIS MONTH IN THE GARDEN

Party plan

Grill a company-worthy dinner in under an hour.

Home rules!

Keeping kids active and entertained all season long is a cinch with BHG's camp-at-home vacation guide.

I did it!